The 1980s style/music: Something to celebrate vs. something to avoid

[J2112YYZ]

The 80s was my childhood so I absolutely love everything about it. You won't ever hear me say a bad thing about that decade. It seems like it was the last decade where everyone had fun. Shit has gotten way too serious and PC from the 90s until now. If there was a time machine, I would go back to 1980 and just live out that decade over again. Edited November 1, 2015 by J2112YYZ

[Fridge]

The 80s saw me through my teens and early twenties...some great times mixed with some not so great......music was really good though, with lots of clearly defined genres.

[ru_ready]

The 80's was the Division of rock as was known in the 70's, and the main thing that seperated rock from other generes was one catch phrase, "MTV".

 

Early 80's were still rocking, up until about 83-84 when the major segments were taking shape and music companies (promoters) were more focused on getting a band to hit the airwaves and create that perfect "rock video" and the music was a by product of what image your mind remembered about the song. then there was a HUGE divide about dance tunes versus ROCK N Roll. The catch phrase remembered most in school was "did you see ____'s video??? music meant nothing.

 

sure we had the segments, dance, grunge, RAP, and a new section "country bop" which was a cross between pop and country, as long as they had a hit on a video station the tune would be known.....

 

many of the classic bands were lost in the middle of this decade, can you name any real good stones hits that would be from mid 80's that had to be "dance style" do you honestly think "men at work" are as good as they became? or was it because they had very little competition when "as usual" was released?

 

Many one hit wonders hit the charts during this era also, escalated by the video image maore than the radio play. If it had flash and a catchy hook, it was shoved into the video machine.....

 

best thing to come from the MTV era was that it opened the envelope to push for the cutting edge experimentation that brought us the "Duck Man" cartoons in the early 90's. If you were there you know what I mean.

 

cheers

[Mr. Not]

What you mean by avoid "being"?

 

I liked the 80's style and all that, but everyone seemed to have to adhere to it and that's what i didn't like.

[Segue Myles]

The 80s was my childhood so I absolutely love everything about it. You won't ever hear me say a bad thing about that decade. It seems like it was the last decade where everyone had fun. Shit has gotten way too serious and PC from the 90s until now. If there was a time machine, I would go back to 1980 and just live out that decade over again.

 

I agree. The eighties were ten years of awesome! And as derided as glam metal is, or hair metal or power ballads or the like...no trend of the eighties matched the pure suckage of the nineties nu metal. Aaaah! Sorry but so much about Grunge got it right... And then nu metal came along and created a scene worse than anything grunge is claimed to have killed.

[Digital Dad]

The 80's were the decade that ate itself.

[x1yyz]

I came of age in the 80s, musically and otherwise. I found Rush in 1980, I found new wave a couple years later, I became immersed in the alternative/goth/industrial scene a little later, and I started my DJ career in 1988. The 80s were a fabulous time, full of new and innovative stuff, and I remember it fondly.

 

All that being said, I lived through the 80s once and I don't need to do it again. But I still love a lot of the music, and I do like that many current indie bands have an 80s retro sound.

[Rick N. Backer]

I was 12 on January 1, 1980 and 22 on December 31, 1989. So many of the events that shaped who I am now occurred in that 10 years. Some of them make me laugh out loud even now. Some of them, since we're just among friends, still make me sad. But if you scroll through my iPod, the truth is most of the music I still love was released in that time period. I'm quite sure I love Pyyromania or Signals or Rio in part because I remember placing my thumbnail in the side opening, piercing the shrink wrap, and hearing the needle drop on the vinyl.

 

Fondly.

[Segue Myles]

I was 12 on January 1, 1980 and 22 on December 31, 1989. So many of the events that shaped who I am now occurred in that 10 years. Some of them make me laugh out loud even now. Some of them, since we're just among friends, still make me sad. But if you scroll through my iPod, the truth is most of the music I still love was released in that time period. I'm quite sure I love Pyyromania or Signals or Rio in part because I remember placing my thumbnail in the side opening, piercing the shrink wrap, and hearing the needle drop on the vinyl.

 

Fondly.

 

 

I grew up on my parents vinyls, so glad I have at least a little in common with kids from that generation! (I was almost a teenager when I got my first CD player).

[goose]

Which brings us full circle. My favorite music decade is the 90s. After being into metal in the 80s but despising what we now call the hair metal scene bands like Alice in chains, STP, Live, Silverchair, Smashing Pumpkins, Bush, Blind Melon, Weezer, Stabbing Westward, NIN, Powerman 5000, The Prodigy really spoke to me. I'm leaving out a ton of acts a lot which were one hit wonders probably. Even pop was better with Alannis morrisette, hootie and the blowfish, or matchbox 20 making listenable music.

 

I agree so much with this! I enjoy the eighties, but the more I research and learn about the mainstream of that time, the more exciting and vital the whole Grunge explosion becomes.

 

I think, had I lived through the eighties, the explosion of grunge would have been right up my alley (I came to hard rock via Nirvana back in 2004).

If the 80's had great songwriting and experimentation, the 90's were a return to great musicianship. I agree that the 90's had a lot of great bands with lasting appeal.

 

These wee groups that embraced the influence of bands like RUSH, rather than push against it.

[goose]

do you honestly think "men at work" are as good as they became? or was it because they had very little competition when "as usual" was released?

 

cheers

They were competing against Thriller, Let's Dance, and Synchronicity. Not bad company there. Here's the 1983 Billboard Hot 100. Scroll that list and it's full of monster competition.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1983

 

Business as Usual took off because it was full of great songs. Men at Work as a live act were marginal, however, and Cargo was just an OK follow-up.

[ru_ready]

do you honestly think "men at work" are as good as they became? or was it because they had very little competition when "as usual" was released?

 

cheers

They were competing against Thriller, Let's Dance, and Synchronicity. Not bad company there. Here's the 1983 Billboard Hot 100. Scroll that list and it's full of monster competition.

 

https://en.wikipedia...singles_of_1983

 

Business as Usual took off because it was full of great songs. Men at Work as a live act were marginal, however, and Cargo was just an OK follow-up.

 

 

I rest my case.... no real rocking bands on that list all middle of the road "am" air play stuff.... micheal "beat it" jackson was NOT ROCK n ROLL... all dance singles in that list........

 

cheers

 

as i was saying.... the genre split wide open in that time frame.

Edited November 1, 2015 by ru_ready

[Na na na]

So much creativity and fearlessness. There's a lot of great music from the eighties.

 

This

[Segue Myles]

do you honestly think "men at work" are as good as they became? or was it because they had very little competition when "as usual" was released?

 

cheers

They were competing against Thriller, Let's Dance, and Synchronicity. Not bad company there. Here's the 1983 Billboard Hot 100. Scroll that list and it's full of monster competition.

 

https://en.wikipedia...singles_of_1983

 

Business as Usual took off because it was full of great songs. Men at Work as a live act were marginal, however, and Cargo was just an OK follow-up.

 

 

I rest my case.... no real rocking bands on that list all middle of the road "am" air play stuff.... micheal "beat it" jackson was NOT ROCK n ROLL... all dance singles in that list........

 

cheers

 

as i was saying.... the genre split wide open in that time frame.

 

Thank goodness rock music is not the be all and end all then.

[bathory]

I make it no secret I love the 1980s despite not being alive in that time period. I love the style, I love the music and I love the overall attitude of "just be you, don't worry about other people judging you." Everything was just very loose, nothing was wound too tight, which is why it confuses me on why people shit on this decade so much. Anyway, I'd like to see what this forum's opinion on the 1980s is and your reasoning behind your choice.

Living through it I have to disagree with the way you think it was. A friend from work once said the 80s must have been awesome for music and I laughed. It was difficult to find out about non-mainstream music. You had to know people who could make suggestions. The radio was terrible with only a few exceptions. Music was so overplayed that certain years automatically bring certain songs to mind like born in the USA, purple rain, like a Virgin, that Tina turner song, etc.... Asa listener this is the best time since you have unlimited access and can easily search out new things. Hell, every where you turn you're being told "if you like this, you'll love that." Purely in music terms, I think the 80s are mixed. Probably the best thing to come out for me was hip hop, metal, and freestyle. Hip hop existed in the 70s but became huge in 80s. Metal exploded into all sorts of genres as well. Freestyle was a ton of fun at parties and clubs.

My experience in Washington was very different. We had great radio, and Seattle/Olympia was a Mecca for indie bands.

We did have a nice underground music scene but nothing like Seattle. Mainly bands like savatage, morbid angel, and other mostly heavy acts. Only really cool radio show was a hip hop show in mid to late 80s on a local independent wmnf called the Kenny K show. It was the only way to hear anything from Miami or New York without going there.

I was living just outside of Olympia in the early 80's so we had the benefit of the K-Records movement. They ran radio KAOS out of Evergreen State College and helped spawn acts like Sleater Kinney (named after Sleater Kinney Road), and later Beck, Modest Mouse. Seattle had metal acts like Queensryche and punk acts like Green River (which spawned Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone). And there were tons of similar bands that played the clubs.

 

when I went to school

 

in olympia!!

[bathory]

best metal, best punk, best porn

[bathory]

and even really bad 80s pop is at least hilarious, whereas there is nothing funny about nicki minaj, drake, etc

[New_World_Man]

It's funny. I asked my brother what he thought is the best decade for music and his answer was the 80's(at least for him personally since he did say he thinks the sixties is the best but his personal preference is for the eighties). When I pressed him about this it turns out that's when he first got into music. He bought his first album in the early 80's, saw what he considers to be his first rock concert etc etc. I think the seventies blows the eighties to shreds. That is my opinion. The production on most eighties albums is pretty crappy for one thing. Just listen to those thud thud drums for example. Also, most of the really successful bands were hair metal bands. I could go on and on but I won't. That being said, I do like some stuff from the eighties but I think it pales in comparison to other decades. Even the 90's seem better to my ears. In the end no decade is better for music than the seventies. Some people might say the sixties but one or two bands can't save a decade. Edited November 1, 2015 by New_World_Man

[laughedatbytime]

best metal, best punk, best porn

Bush fan, huh?

 

Or was that the 70s?

Edited November 1, 2015 by laughedatbytime

[goose]

I make it no secret I love the 1980s despite not being alive in that time period. I love the style, I love the music and I love the overall attitude of "just be you, don't worry about other people judging you." Everything was just very loose, nothing was wound too tight, which is why it confuses me on why people shit on this decade so much. Anyway, I'd like to see what this forum's opinion on the 1980s is and your reasoning behind your choice.

Living through it I have to disagree with the way you think it was. A friend from work once said the 80s must have been awesome for music and I laughed. It was difficult to find out about non-mainstream music. You had to know people who could make suggestions. The radio was terrible with only a few exceptions. Music was so overplayed that certain years automatically bring certain songs to mind like born in the USA, purple rain, like a Virgin, that Tina turner song, etc.... Asa listener this is the best time since you have unlimited access and can easily search out new things. Hell, every where you turn you're being told "if you like this, you'll love that." Purely in music terms, I think the 80s are mixed. Probably the best thing to come out for me was hip hop, metal, and freestyle. Hip hop existed in the 70s but became huge in 80s. Metal exploded into all sorts of genres as well. Freestyle was a ton of fun at parties and clubs.

My experience in Washington was very different. We had great radio, and Seattle/Olympia was a Mecca for indie bands.

We did have a nice underground music scene but nothing like Seattle. Mainly bands like savatage, morbid angel, and other mostly heavy acts. Only really cool radio show was a hip hop show in mid to late 80s on a local independent wmnf called the Kenny K show. It was the only way to hear anything from Miami or New York without going there.

I was living just outside of Olympia in the early 80's so we had the benefit of the K-Records movement. They ran radio KAOS out of Evergreen State College and helped spawn acts like Sleater Kinney (named after Sleater Kinney Road), and later Beck, Modest Mouse. Seattle had metal acts like Queensryche and punk acts like Green River (which spawned Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone). And there were tons of similar bands that played the clubs.

 

when I went to school

 

in olympia!!

For reals? I dated a girl from Capital High.

[ru_ready]

Thank goodness rock music is not the be all and end all then.

 

 

 

Music being very personal and subjective will never have a 100% agreement. personal tastes everywhere.

[ru_ready]

It's funny. I asked my brother what he thought is the best decade for music and his answer was the 80's(at least for him personally since he did say he thinks the sixties is the best but his personal preference is for the eighties). When I pressed him about this it turns out that's when he first got into music. He bought his first album in the early 80's, saw what he considers to be his first rock concert etc etc. I think the seventies blows the eighties to shreds. That is my opinion. The production on most eighties albums is pretty crappy for one thing. Just listen to those thud thud drums for example. Also, most of the really successful bands were hair metal bands. I could go on and on but I won't. That being said, I do like some stuff from the eighties but I think it pales in comparison to other decades. Even the 90's seem better to my ears. In the end no decade is better for music than the seventies. Some people might say the sixties but one or two bands can't save a decade.

 

 

 

agreed..... we have to also remeber that music was under a new influence and that was "MTV" same thing as "Youtube" artists today.... if there was no youtube I bet there would be no "Justin time beeber"......

 

 

I am not saying all 80's stuff was crap, there were some interesting things that did come from the 80's......

Edited November 1, 2015 by ru_ready

[bathory]

I make it no secret I love the 1980s despite not being alive in that time period. I love the style, I love the music and I love the overall attitude of "just be you, don't worry about other people judging you." Everything was just very loose, nothing was wound too tight, which is why it confuses me on why people shit on this decade so much. Anyway, I'd like to see what this forum's opinion on the 1980s is and your reasoning behind your choice.

Living through it I have to disagree with the way you think it was. A friend from work once said the 80s must have been awesome for music and I laughed. It was difficult to find out about non-mainstream music. You had to know people who could make suggestions. The radio was terrible with only a few exceptions. Music was so overplayed that certain years automatically bring certain songs to mind like born in the USA, purple rain, like a Virgin, that Tina turner song, etc.... Asa listener this is the best time since you have unlimited access and can easily search out new things. Hell, every where you turn you're being told "if you like this, you'll love that." Purely in music terms, I think the 80s are mixed. Probably the best thing to come out for me was hip hop, metal, and freestyle. Hip hop existed in the 70s but became huge in 80s. Metal exploded into all sorts of genres as well. Freestyle was a ton of fun at parties and clubs.

My experience in Washington was very different. We had great radio, and Seattle/Olympia was a Mecca for indie bands.

We did have a nice underground music scene but nothing like Seattle. Mainly bands like savatage, morbid angel, and other mostly heavy acts. Only really cool radio show was a hip hop show in mid to late 80s on a local independent wmnf called the Kenny K show. It was the only way to hear anything from Miami or New York without going there.

I was living just outside of Olympia in the early 80's so we had the benefit of the K-Records movement. They ran radio KAOS out of Evergreen State College and helped spawn acts like Sleater Kinney (named after Sleater Kinney Road), and later Beck, Modest Mouse. Seattle had metal acts like Queensryche and punk acts like Green River (which spawned Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone). And there were tons of similar bands that played the clubs.

 

when I went to school

 

in olympia!!

For reals? I dated a girl from Capital High.

 

no, I was quoting courtney love

[ru_ready]

all the 80's hair metal you could want to re-live here on this 45 minute gem i just found... you be the judge... warning no M Jackson here. some good some bad... but all influenced from music videos.

 

80's Metal Music - A Trip Through 80s Metal 1980-1989

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHrF946hGbI

[goose]

I make it no secret I love the 1980s despite not being alive in that time period. I love the style, I love the music and I love the overall attitude of "just be you, don't worry about other people judging you." Everything was just very loose, nothing was wound too tight, which is why it confuses me on why people shit on this decade so much. Anyway, I'd like to see what this forum's opinion on the 1980s is and your reasoning behind your choice.

Living through it I have to disagree with the way you think it was. A friend from work once said the 80s must have been awesome for music and I laughed. It was difficult to find out about non-mainstream music. You had to know people who could make suggestions. The radio was terrible with only a few exceptions. Music was so overplayed that certain years automatically bring certain songs to mind like born in the USA, purple rain, like a Virgin, that Tina turner song, etc.... Asa listener this is the best time since you have unlimited access and can easily search out new things. Hell, every where you turn you're being told "if you like this, you'll love that." Purely in music terms, I think the 80s are mixed. Probably the best thing to come out for me was hip hop, metal, and freestyle. Hip hop existed in the 70s but became huge in 80s. Metal exploded into all sorts of genres as well. Freestyle was a ton of fun at parties and clubs.

My experience in Washington was very different. We had great radio, and Seattle/Olympia was a Mecca for indie bands.

We did have a nice underground music scene but nothing like Seattle. Mainly bands like savatage, morbid angel, and other mostly heavy acts. Only really cool radio show was a hip hop show in mid to late 80s on a local independent wmnf called the Kenny K show. It was the only way to hear anything from Miami or New York without going there.

I was living just outside of Olympia in the early 80's so we had the benefit of the K-Records movement. They ran radio KAOS out of Evergreen State College and helped spawn acts like Sleater Kinney (named after Sleater Kinney Road), and later Beck, Modest Mouse. Seattle had metal acts like Queensryche and punk acts like Green River (which spawned Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone). And there were tons of similar bands that played the clubs.

 

when I went to school

 

in olympia!!

For reals? I dated a girl from Capital High.

 

no, I was quoting courtney love

Ohhh... Duh.

 

 

And it wasn't Courtney that I dated.